“How’s the stress at work?”

“Fine. I love my job. I don’t think it’s stressful.”

“Please, I don’t know a single teacher whose adrenals aren’t screaming for help”

This was a conversation with my doc a few years ago. Her frank response to my not experiencing job-related stress was a game changer for me. Loving one’s work doesn’t mean there’s no stress. There’s plenty and more. I learned that. And as I learned, I did better. I ate better. Exercised more. Found ways to lighten my load at school. Stopped bringing work home and going in on weekends. I got better. I even took a few mental health days, which, in my younger years, I would have judged as a sign of weakness (sorry, I was young and dumb). I got better.

But even better backslides, and if we are not careful we fall back to old routines. I fell back a bit this fall. I have not taken good care of myself–nutritionally, physically, emotionally. And of late, I have begun to pay the price. Yesterday, I had nothing left in my pocket for the toll, so I decided to take a mental-health half day to reboot myself, to find myself. Sadly, though I felt better upon making the decision to go home, I also felt guilty for feeling better. What a vicious cycle, but thankfully I am connected to many wise colleagues on Twitter who told me to let go of the guilt, that self-care is health care. So I let go. Took a nap and a long walk with my dog and felt better–about everything, which was a sharp contrast to my sunken feeling of the past several days. I got better.

Today, I am better. Tomorrow I will do better. I will make myself a priority again, so I can be my best better for my students, my family, myself. We have to take care of ourselves.

Today’s Trail

Along today’s trail we will experience…

…connecting through Smiles and Frowns.

…growing with grammar.

…viewing “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.”

…reflecting in our Journey Journals.

…hearing a Sappy Sy Rhyme.

Happy Wednesday, all. Take care of yourselves.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.